Islamabad United 220 for 6 (Azam 97, Asif 42, Smith 2-41) beat Quetta Gladiators 157 all out (Hafeez 48, Sarfaraz 41, Farooqi 3-28) by 63 runs
But Azam had only just arrived, and would strike up a partnership with Asif Ali that was almost violent in its relentlessness. The duo added 98 runs in 7.3 overs, dealing, for a while, not just in boundaries, but almost exclusively in sixes. 15 sixes flew out of the ground in the final 12 overs, Gladiators thrown into disarray as they watched vintage United make mincemeat out of what had been an encouraging start.
While Asif was an able support act, in truth, it was all about Azam. This was an innings that showed why he’s regarded as one of Pakistan’s premier power-hitters. The takedown of Naseem Shah, Aimal Khan and most memorably, Hasnain, in successive overs was a breathtaking passage of play, those five overs producing 83 runs. A pick-up sweep off Hasnain from wide outside off for a 102m six over cow corner might just end up being the shot of the tournament, one that crystallised Azam’s innate elegance and brutality.
By now, Gladiators had been run ragged. While Azam was deceived by an Odean Smith slower ball off the final ball of the innings to deprive him of the hundred he so richly deserved, it wasn’t before United had surged to 220.
The last three PSL campaigns for Gladiators ended in first round elimination, and despite only being half-way through this year’s tournament, it’s becoming impossible to see any other fate for what was once the most consistent side in the league.